The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-12-08
POULTRY ON The FARM.
HOW to Keep Fowls Healthy and In Q
Profita BILE Condition.

How to Keep Fowls Healthy and In
Profita BILE Condition.
. The word poultry suggests to differ
emit individuals different pictures. To
some of US who have been so unfortu-
nate as to have had an attack of chen
fever, it suggests some pretty feath-
cred creatures plump and comfortable,
singing as it were 10 express their
thanks for the care bestowed upon them.
They also make their owners happy by
gifts of eggs, which. although not liter
ally made of gold, are easily converted
into it, and to hungry man ara far
more palatable.
Before we can have poultry we must
have eggs. 1t might also be said, that
to have eggs we must have the right
breed ofpoultry. Ali things con sidered,
the Plymouth Rock family is second 10
none. The Leghorn family comes next,
both white and brown. With good care
and judicious feeding. all the different
breeds will give satisfactory returns.
Much depends on the housing and
feeding. Warm quarters are absolutely
necessary in winter. No breed OF
poultry can be made profitable to the
owner when kept in cold, damp quar-
tiers In the winter. The care of fowls is
imperfect which does not provide fresh
meat and green vegetables. such as
cabbage, turnips or early cut hay, cut
fine and scalded.
10 keep fowls healthy one must pro-
vide variety. A hot mash every
winter morning should be the rule.
Fowls should never be forced to eat
snow il winter or drink ice water. Let
the water be tepid and clear. Wheat
is an excellent food for fowls. Corn is
too fattening for a steady diet; it should
be given to them when going to roost
in cold weather in winter. To feed a
cabbage head TO fowls or sheaf of
wheat or oats, hang it up so they can
just reach it. Hang it so it will swing
freely, and the birds circle around it.
Ears of corn can also be hung in the
same way. 1t all aids to keep the fowls
employed
If fowls are rightly cared for in
winter the profit then will equal the
profit in summer. The poultry yard
can be made the dumping ground of a
great many things. Any vegetable
matter which will decay, or almost any
sort of animal product fit for fowl to
eat, can be thrown there to advantage.
Hay seed and rubbish from the barn
floor or horse hangers should go there,
as the fowls will eat a great many
seeds and thus keep them from sprout-
ing in the fields. The scratching ex-
ercise is also what the fowls need, and
indeed must have. When the rubbish
decays it should go to the manure pile.
Strict attention is very necessary in
the management of poultry to insure
success. The beginner with poultry
should not be disturbed at seeing very
many different rules given for success.
The fact is. fowls will thrive under sew
eral kinds of treatment, provided they
all secure comfort for the birds. That
is the main rule.
Hens are a nuisance about a grain
and hay barn. and if they have Il
house and yard of their own, they have
no business in the barn. Their feeding
can be better regulated; fewer eggs
are lost or broken, and the parasite
nuisance is rendered more manageable.
The hens can sit and hatch with less
disturbance. The hen house should
stand in convenient place. The size
must correspond with the number of
fowls kept If possible, the walls
should be plastered, so they can be
whitewashed in fall and spring. A
good gravel floor, with the foundation
walls laid in mortar, will be proof
against rats and vermin. Good venti-
lation is necessary and should be on
top. Cleanliness is necessary to insure
the health of the fowls. Plenty of
glass windows are absolutely necessary
to make it pleasant for them.
Diseases common to poultry. can in
a great many instances be prevented
by providing warm, dry aad clean
quarters. Keeping too many fowls in
one place is apt to bring on disease.
This should be avoided. Onions
chopped fine and mixed with their food
is good for their health. A little sui
phur should be given in the winter.
When they have roup or diph-
liberia, give half teaspoonful of
kerosene. Open the bill and turn
from spoon. Lime and ashes should
always be kept by them. A little salt
occasionally in their food is good for
their health. In winter. apples. turnips
and cabbages chopped fine will be benc-
fetal. Strict attention TO all the little |
details connected with management of
poultry will be amply rewarded in pro- /
duction of eggs. Care must be taken
in marketing that they are fresh laid.
The thirty-dozen crate is perhaps the
safest thing yet invented. Small num-
bers can be safely carried in the COM
mon market basket if packed in oats
or fine cut straw.
In dressing poultry for the market.
great care is necessary, particularly in
Too hot. or too cold water
will give the bird a bad appearance and
will be apt to reduce the price, Dress
ing poultry for the market should be
done by experienced hands. The rich
yellow color so much admired by buyers
muSt nor no dam n cred nv dresSinp The |